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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

To access youtube and other embedded multimedia, you need to enable javascript and install the flash plugin for firefox (or whatever your browser is).

This will enable non-free software needed to run on your computer, inside your browser. It is not enabled by default because it also creates a security vulnerability. Advise you also install noscript so you can choose which sites can run software inside your browser.

DVD playback is already enabled - however, almost all commercial DVD movies contain DRM and encryption so they cannot be played on an unlicenced machine. It is possible to circumvent the encryption and some countries have laws which allow this as a kind of fair use. Other countries (USA?) this is illegal.

Follow the instructions for adding the repository and the gpg key, then run the appropriate commands to install codec support, and DVD support(sudo apt-get install w32codecs, sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2). Flash, I always download the tar file from Adobe.com and follow the instructinos, and it installs in no time.

Anyhoo, I've been having problems getting a DVD to play in Kaffeine. I get the error message:

This DVD Video is encrypted. To be able to watch it you will need to install libdvdcss by running from a console: sudo /usr/share/doc/kaffeine/install-css.sh. In some countries it is illegal to install the decryption software without permission from the video copyright holder.

I installed w32codecs and libdvdcss2, and it still doesn't work! I never had a problem in Windows with playing any DVDs, don't know why it has to be so difficult in Linux!

Btw, running Kubuntu 8.04 if that helps.

TIA

UPDATE:
Nevermind, I downloaded VLC Player and it works perfect!
Still need Kaffeine for mpgs and such cause there are sound problems with VLC and mpgs, even in Windows!

Anyhoo, I've been having problems getting a DVD to play in Kaffeine. I get the error message:

This DVD Video is encrypted. To be able to watch it you will need to install libdvdcss by running from a console: sudo /usr/share/doc/kaffeine/install-css.sh. In some countries it is illegal to install the decryption software without permission from the video copyright holder.

I installed w32codecs and libdvdcss2, and it still doesn't work! I never had a problem in Windows with playing any DVDs, don't know why it has to be so difficult in Linux!

The difficulty is imposed upon the free software world by the media companies. We simply do not have a license to allow encrypted/DRMed media to be played with free software.

Note - you can pay for a non-free DVD player (LinDVD) which does have this license. There are projects, without the license, which include everything needed for DVD playback. MPlayer, and the VideoLAN Client, for eg. Installing these in some jurisdictions can leave you vulnerable to litigation.

UPDATE:
Nevermind, I downloaded VLC Player and it works perfect!
Still need Kaffeine for mpgs and such cause there are sound problems with VLC and mpgs, even in Windows!

Transcode proprietary formats to free ones. Try ffmpeg2theora ... this will transcode most formats into the equiv. (free) Xiph format. You will still have problems with some DRM - which is just the media company telling you that they do not want you to play the media on your computer.

If you use a ardio station or other broadcast provider which insists on using non-free formats, how about writing to them to encourage them to change? This has worked before.